Abstract: An electro-shaker vehicle test stand for vehicle evaluation includes a support frame, an electro-shaker mechanism and an interconnecting lever arm. The lever arm has an adjustable length. The test stand includes a spring table having a spring table plate and a spring table frame that is parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance below the spring table plate, a guide rod having a lower end attached to the spring table frame and an upper end attached to the spring table plate and a spring having an upper end attached to the frame and a lower end attached to the spring table frame. Activation of the electro-shaker mechanism induces an oscillatory movement of the spring in a vertical direction so that the spring table and vehicle are correspondingly displaced in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A method for the removal of entrained hydrocarbons, particularly aromatics, from water by extracting the hydrocarbons in the water with a hydrocarbon which is relatively less soluble in the water than the entrained hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbons are then separated from the water by a process of coalescence/separation. The extractant is suitably a paraffinic hydrocarbon which, while having an affinity for the entrained hydrocarbon, is relatively less soluble in water than hydrocarbons such as aromatics. The hydrocarbons removed from the water can be recirculated to the feed with the composition of the recirculating phase being controlled to achieve the desired level of hydrocarbon removal.

Abstract: A fuel gas supply system of a vessel, such as an LNG carrier, is provided for supplying fuel gas to a high-pressure gas injection engine of an LNG carrier, wherein LNG is extracted from an LNG storage tank of the LNG carrier, compressed at a high pressure, gasified, and then supplied to the high-pressure gas injection engine. In one embodiment, the system includes a boil-off gas reliquefaction apparatus for reliquefying boil-off gas generated in the LNG tank.

Abstract: A method for the removal of dissolved water or water and ice from hydrocarbon liquids such as petroleum refinery fuels or natural gas liquids in a manner which enables the fuels to be readily treated by the coalescence/separation technique while reducing the potential for plugging filters and other equipment with ice crystals. Free water or water/ice is removed from the liquid hydrocarbons by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a treating agent which as an affinity for water prior to subjecting the mixture to coalescence/separation. The treating agent is preferably a co-solvent for the water and the hydrocarbon such as an alcohol e.g. methanol. The treating agent and water are separated from the hydrocarbon component during the coalescence/separation and recirculated to the feed with the composition of the recycle aqueous phase being controlled to achieve the desired level of water removal to meet relevant product specifications.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided, that is cost effective to use and manufacture and that includes a low count of component parts, allowing mission planners to use the UAVs in a disposable manner. The UAV includes an airframe having a central body and wings extending from the central body, defining an interior cavity. The airframe includes an upper and a lower shell, each configured of a unitary piece of plastic. The upper and lower shells have walls among them that define a fuel tank and a payload bay in a stacked configuration. The airframe can further include a payload cover configured to enclose the payload bay and to contribute to the central body of the airframe. A launch assembly is also provided. In a first configuration, a launch assembly is provided, that includes a container for housing multiple UAVs and a deployment mechanism that initiates rapid ejection of the UAVs from the container.

Abstract: A system and method of vehicular wireless communication over a Dedicated Short Range Communication service band is provided. The system includes a vehicle having a navigation means, a processor, and a communication means for transmitting a message via a wireless communications link. The system includes a control channel for communicating a safety communication and a service channel for communicating a non-safety communication. The control channel is subdivided into a contention-free period having a group management interval, a service announcement interval and a safety exchange interval and a contention period having a non-safety service interval. The system further includes an integrated coordinating access point that operates in both the control channel and service channel.

Abstract: An automotive radar system having a high frequency radio transmitter which generates a radar signal in a known direction. A high frequency radio receiver receives echoes from the radar signal in which each echo represents a reflection of the radar signal from an object. A processor then identifies animate objects, if any, from the received echoes within a range of interest and generates an alert signal for each such identified animate object.

Abstract: Compositions and methods herein provide monopropellants comprising nitrous oxide mixed with organic fuels in particular proportions creating stable, storable, monopropellants which demonstrate high ISP performance. Due to physical properties of the nitrous molecule, fuel/nitrous blends demonstrate high degrees of miscibility as well as excellent chemical stability. While the monopropellants are particularly well suited for use as propulsion propellants, they also lend themselves well to power generation in demanding situations where some specific cycle creates useable work and for providing gas pressure and/or heat for inflating deployable materials.

Abstract: A process of forming a clear coat including the steps of providing hydrophobic nanoparticles by chemically modifying the surface of the nanoparticles, dispersing the hydrophobic nanoparticles in a solvent, combining the dispersed nanoparticles in the solvent with a clear coat material, and mixing the dispersed nanoparticles in a solvent with the clear coat material forming a clear coat having a transparency of at least 50 percent.

Abstract: A glove box energy absorbing structure that does not use braces to attach to an instrument panel or instrument panel reinforcement is provided. The energy absorbing structure includes a selectively collapsible pillar proximate to a bottom region of an upper glove box and a selectively collapsible pillar as part of a top wall of a lower glove box. The selectively collapsible pillar of the lower glove box is oppositely disposed from and adjacent to the selectively collapsible pillar of the upper glove box. The two selectively collapsible pillars afford for engagement with each other and thereby afford for energy to be absorbed during an accident when the lower glove box is impacted by the knee of a passenger sitting in the front seat of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method of drying liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons by contacting a feed stream of the hydrocarbon with an aqueous solution of a salt drying agent prior to passing the stream through a salt dryer to remove part of the water in the stream. The aqueous solution of the salt drying agent is generated in the salt dryer when the partly dried stream comes into contact with the drying salt and forms the solution. The solution is circulated in a loop from the salt dryer to the incoming feed and then through a liquid/liquid coalescer which removes a portion of the water together with dissolved salt from the mixture before the mixture is passed on to the salt dryer where further removal of water occurs. The salt dryer is off-loaded by a substantial factor by the initial partial dehydration and does not require to remove such a large amount of water; the salt consumption is therefore reduced in proportion to the amount of water removed in the treatment steps which precede the dryer.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment sensor for a machine-vision vehicle wheel alignment system comprising a scanned beam camera incorporating an illumination source, a means for deflecting light emitted by the illumination source along a path within a field of view, and a detector array for receiving illumination reflected from objects within the field of view to generate an image which is representative of a region of interest within the field of view.

Abstract: A hard-coated member comprising a hard coating comprising a lowermost layer, an intermediate laminate and an uppermost layer on a substrate, the intermediate laminate being constituted by alternately laminated layers A and layers B having different compositions, the layers A and the layers B being respectively made of at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, borides, carbides and oxides of metal components having compositions represented by the formula of AlWCrXTiYSiZ, wherein W, X, Y and Z respectively represent atomic % of Al, Cr, Ti and Si, W+X+Y+Z=100, and these combinations, the layers A meeting the condition of 70?W+X<100, the layers B meeting the condition of 30?Y<100, and the uppermost layer being made of at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides, sulfides and borides of Ti or Ti and Si and these combinations, or at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides, sulfides and borides of Cr or Cr and Si and these combinations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to on-car brake lathes configured for resurfacing brake rotor components, and in particular, to improved on-car brake lathes configured with a drive system for controlling a rotational direction of an output spindle during a brake rotor resurfacing procedure.

Abstract: Severely sterically hindered secondary aminoether alcohols are prepared by a process comprising reacting a ketene with sulfuric acid to produce an anhydride which is then reacted with, to cleave the ring of, a dioxane to yield a cleavage product which is then aminated using an amine, followed by hydrolysis with a base to yield the desired severely sterically hindered secondary aminoether alcohol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for controlling the Blow out preventer (BOP) used in well drilling operations comprising: BOP control unit, master control panel connected to the BOP unit for acquisition of data and processing the said data, comprising an input module, an output module and analog I/P module; a plurality of slave panels connected to master panel through the connecting means comprising input module, output module for controlling the BOP control unit; wherein the said slave panel is a programmable logic controller(PLC) for controlling BOP control unit.

Abstract: A method for upgrading heavy oils by contacting the heavy oil with an inhibitor additive and then thermally treating the inhibitor additized heavy oil. The invention also relates to the upgraded product from the inhibitor enhanced thermal treatment process.

Abstract: A multiple positioning assembly with integral switch contact includes a cylindrical housing along with a ball assembly including a ball portion received by the cylindrical assembly. The ball portion includes an electrically conductive surface and a neck extending therefrom. A plurality of spaced apart spring retainers are disposed within the cylindrical housing with electrically conductive coil spring contacts therein. Adjacent spring contacts complete an electrical circuit through the ball portion surface when in simultaneous contact therewith. Spring contacts further enable positioning of the ball portion within the cylindrical housing for conical movement of the neck with the ball portion being axially moveable between the spring contacts.

Abstract: A cushion for an automotive grille mounted in an automotive body. The cushion includes an elongated shank having an exterior thread formed along its length. The shank is adapted to be threadably mounted in a hole in the automotive body so that a portion of the shank is sandwiched in between the grille and the automotive body. The effective thickness of the cushion is controlled by rotation of the shank relative to the automotive body.